Buffering cushion with suspending layer hung between inward-bent air columns

ABSTRACT

A buffering cushion with a suspending layer hung between inward-bent air columns is provided. The quick-inflatable buffering cushion includes a first buffering member, a second buffering member, a third buffering member, a pair of vertical walls and a suspending layer. The second and third buffering members are bent to form a rectangular casing that has one pend end and a U-like sectional shape. A hammock-like suspending layer is integratedly extended from ends of the vertical walls for carrying an external object while providing buffering protection. The vertical walls form together with the second and third buffering member dual lateral buffering protection, respectively. The suspending layer is a non-inflatable piece, and thus is unlikely to be punctured by a sharp portion of the external object. Thereby, the external object is well protected in all directions by the buffering cushion and secured from damage during transport.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to buffering cushions for packaging, andmore particularly to a buffering cushion with a suspending layer hungbetween inward-bent air columns, wherein the air columns can be inflatedquickly and the suspending layer is hung between the inward-bent aircolumns.

2. Description of Related Art

With the vigorous development of the technical industry, electronic andtelecommunication products, such as smart phones, tablet computers andflat LCD TV sets, become more and more exquisite in terms of structure.For ensuring the integrity of these products throughout their packing,transport and delivery, packaging materials play an important role. Inearly days, foam and other soft, loose material were placed in cartonsfor providing buffering protection. However, their effects are limitedas they are unable to be uniformly arranged and they tend to scatteraround.

For overcoming the foregoing shortcomings, some packaging dealersstarted to use an inflatable air pack as cushioning material. Such aninflatable air pack has a piece-like shape constructed from a pluralityof air columns, and is to be placed around an object to be protected orfilled in a packaging box. However, one air pack can only protect oneside of the object, and in order to achieve all-around protection, manyof such air packs have to be used simultaneously. This neverthelessmeans troublesome installing operation. Furthermore, since the air packsare independent of each other, they tend to have displacement after theforegoing time-consuming installation. One more defect of the known airpacks is that as they are in nature inflated thin-film bubbles, whendirectly contacting an object to be protected, the sharp portion of theobject or its other packaging material, such as binding needles, caneasily puncture the film-made air packs. Particularly, at the bottom ofthe object to be protected, the punctured air packs can soon lose airand become functionless. If such puncture happens during transport andthe broken air packs cannot be replaced timely, the object losingprotection is put in high risk of damage.

In view of this, there is a need of an air pack that is unlikely to bepunctured by sharp things and provides all-around buffering protection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One objective of the present invention is to provide an inflatablerectangular cushion body that has a U-like sectional shape for receivingand fully protecting an external object with its buffering capability.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a bufferingcushion with a suspending layer hung between inward-bent air columns,wherein the suspending layer is less likely to be punctured as comparedto inflated parts of the buffering cushion, such as the air columns.

To achieve the foregoing objectives, the disclosed buffering cushionwith the suspending layer hung between the inward-bent air columnscomprises: A buffering cushion with a suspending layer hung betweeninward-bent air columns, the buffering cushion being made of at leasttwo outer films and comprising: a first buffering member, including aplurality of said air columns arranged abreast, wherein each said aircolumn has each of two opposite sides thereof formed with a heat-sealline that binds the two outer films together, and has each of twoopposite ends thereof formed with a joint through heat sealing; a secondbuffering member, extended from one side of the first buffering memberand including a plurality of inflatable wall columns that are connectedto the air columns of the first buffering member via the joints, so thatthe second buffering member is allowed to be bent inward against thejoints, and the second buffering member has one side opposite to thefirst buffering member formed with a connecting heat-seal border forconnecting the inflatable wall columns through heat sealing; a thirdbuffering member, extended from one side of the first buffering memberopposite to the second buffering member and including a plurality ofinflatable wall columns that are connected to the air columns of thefirst buffering member via the joints, so that the third bufferingmember is allowed to be bent inward against the joints, and the thirdbuffering member has one side opposite to the first buffering memberformed with a connecting heat-seal border, in which at least one airchannel is arranged between the first buffering member and each of thesecond and third buffering members so that an inflating air flow isallowed to flow through the first, second and third buffering member;and the suspending layer, connecting the connecting heat-seal borders ofthe second buffering member and the third buffering member, and formingtogether with the second buffering member and the third buffering memberan accommodating space opened outward, wherein the suspending layer haseach of two sides thereof provided with an extended portion, with onesaid extended portion integratedly extended from the connectingheat-seal border of the second buffering member and the other saidextended portion integratedly extended from the connecting heat-sealborder of the third buffering member, and the two extended portions areheat sealed together to form a suspending portion substantially locatedat a center of the accommodating space, whereby the suspending layerserves to carry an external object, and forms together with the first,second and third buffering members a cushion body of the bufferingcushion, for providing the external object with buffering protection, inwhich one end of the cushion body is formed with an end openingcommunicated with the accommodating space.

According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, each ofthe second buffering member and the third buffering member has aplurality of aligned bent sections formed through heat sealing, and avertical wall is formed between the connecting heat-seal border of eachof the second buffering member and the third buffering member and thecorresponding bent sections, so that the vertical walls are allowed tobe bent in toward the accommodating space against the bent sections, inwhich each said vertical wall comprises plural said inflatable wallcolumns, and in which what is between the bent sections of each of thesecond and third buffering members and the joints of the first bufferingmember is defined as a supporting portion, and each said vertical wallhas a height smaller than a height of the supporting portion.

The disclosed buffering cushion can be inflated quickly into a bufferingprotecting structure. The bent second and third buffering members formthe vertical walls, and the non-inflatable suspending layer is formed atends of the vertical walls for carrying an external object. Thereby thesecond and third buffering members and the vertical walls providelateral protection, while at the bottom of the external object thesuspending layer and the first buffering member provide bearing andbuffering, respectively. Thereby, the external object is protected bythe disclosed buffering cushion in all directions and this fullbuffering protection secures the external object from damage duringtransport. Furthermore, since the suspending layer is designed toprevent the first buffering member and itself being punctured by anysharp parts of the external object, the function of the bufferingcushion is ensured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a buffering cushion with a suspendinglayer hung between inward-bent air columns according to one preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the buffering cushion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an expanded view of the buffering cushion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an applied view of the buffering cushion of FIG. 1 showing anexternal object received therein.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a buffering cushion with asuspending layer hung between inward-bent air columns according toanother preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a buffering cushion with a suspendinglayer hung between inward-bent air columns according to anotherpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a buffering cushion with asuspending layer hung between inward-bent air columns according toanother preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a buffering cushion with a suspendinglayer hung between inward-bent air columns, which can be inflatedquickly and is a rectangular casing with one or two end-openings and aU-like sectional shape formed by bending inflatable air columns. Thebuffering cushion contains therein the suspending layer for carrying andproviding an external object with buffering protection. The suspendinglayer is a non-inflatable piece, so is unlikely to be punctured by anysharp parts of the external object. Furthermore, one or more saidbuffering cushions can be used simultaneously to jointly protect theexternal object in all directions.

Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 4, in one preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, a buffering cushion 100 is made from two plasticouter films 101 and 102. The buffering cushion 100 comprises: a firstbuffering member 1, a second buffering member 2, a third bufferingmember 3, a pair of vertical walls 24 and 34, and a suspending layer 4.The first buffering member 1 includes a plurality of arranged abreastair columns 11. Each of the air columns 11 has each of its opposite twosides formed with a heat-seal line 12 that binds the two outer films,and has each of its opposite two ends formed with a joint 13 throughheat sealing.

The second buffering member 2 is extended from one side of the firstbuffering member 1, and includes a plurality of inflatable wall columns20. Each of the inflatable wall columns 20 has each of its opposite twosides formed with the heat-seal line 12, and is connected to the aircolumn 11 of the first buffering member 1 via the joint 13, so that thesecond buffering member 2 is allowed to be bent inward against thejoints 13. The second buffering member 2 at its side opposite to ehfirst buffering member 1 has a connecting heat-seal border 22, forconnecting the inflatable wall columns 20 through heat sealing. In otherwords, the connecting heat-seal border 22 is located at the extreme ofthe second buffering member 2. In addition, the second buffering member2 has a plurality of aligned bent sections 23 formed through heatsealing. The bent sections 23 may be arranged into one or mow rows, withthe attempt to allow the second buffering member 2 to be bent thereon.Therefore, the bending angle of the second buffering member 2 isdetermined by the size of the bent sections 23. Each of the bentsections 23 is corresponding to one said inflatable wall column 20. Thebent sections 30 and heat-seal lines 12 of the inflatable wall column 20are alternatively arranged, so as to form air channels (as shown inFIG. 1) not sealed for allowing an air flow to flow from the firstbuffering member 1 to the second buffering member 2.

The third buffering member 3 is extended from the other side of thefirst buffering member 1, and includes a plurality of inflatable wallcolumns 30. Each of the inflatable wall columns 30 has its opposite twosides sealed with the heat-seal lines 12 and connected to the aircolumns 11 of the first buffering member 1 via the joints 13, so thatthe third buffering member 2 is allowed to be bent inward against thejoints 13. The third buffering member 3 at its side opposite to thefirst buffering member 1 has a connecting heat-seal border 32, forconnecting the inflatable wall columns 30 through heat sealing. In otherwords, the connecting heat-seal border 32 is at the extreme of the thirdbuffering member 3. The third buffering member 3 further has a pluralityof aligned bent sections 33 formed through heat sealing. The bentsections 33 may be arranged into one or more rows, with the attempt toallow the third buffering member 3 to be bent thereon. Therefore, thebending angle of the third buffering member 3 is determined by the sizeof the bent section 33. Each of the bent sections 33 is corresponding toone said inflatable wall column 30. The bent sections 30 and heat-seallines 12 of the inflatable wall column 20 are alternatively arranged, soas to form air channels (as shown in FIG. 1) not sealed for allowing anair flow to flow from the first buffering member 1 to the thirdbuffering member 3.

On the first buffering member 1, the second buffering member 2 and thethird buffering member 3, there are plural air channels 14 formedbetween the air column 11 and the inflatable wall columns 20 and 30, sothat an inflating air flow is allowed to flow through the firstbuffering member 1 and the second buffering member 2 and the thirdbuffering member 3.

The vertical walls 24 and 34 are formed between the connecting heat-sealborders 22 and 32 of the second buffering member 2 and the thirdbuffering member 3 and the bent sections, and are allowed to bentagainst the bent sections 23 and 33 toward an accommodating space 10 (asdescribed below). Each of the vertical walls 24 and 34 comprises pluralinflatable wall columns 20 or 30. Therein, what is between the bentsections 23 or 33 of the second buffering member 2 or the thirdbuffering member 3 and the joints 13 of the first buffering member 1 isdefined as a supporting portion 21 or 31. In other words, the secondbuffering member 2 is bent to form the vertical wall 24 and thesupporting portion 21, and the third buffering member 3 is bent to formthe vertical wall 34 and the supporting portion 31. Each of the verticalwalls 24 and 34 has a height smaller than that of the supporting portion21 or 31, and the bending angle of the vertical wall 24 or 34 isdetermined by the size of the bent sections 23 or 33.

The suspending layer 4 connects the connecting heat-seal borders 22 and32 of the second buffering member and the third buffering member 3, or,connects the extremes of the vertical walls 24 and 34, and formstogether with the second buffering member 2 and the third bufferingmember 3 the accommodating space 10 open outward. The suspending layer 4has its two opposite sides each formed with an extended portion 41. Oneof the extended portion 41 is integratedly extended from the connectingheat-seal border 22 of the second buffering member 2, and the otherextended portion 41 is integratedly extended from the connectingheat-seal border 32 of the third buffering member 3. The two extendedportions 41 are sealed together, and between the two extended portions41 a suspending portion 42 is substantially located at the center of theaccommodating space 10. The suspending portion 42 is separated from theair columns 11 of the first buffering member 1 by an interval. Thesuspending layer 4 serves to carry an external object 5 (as shown inFIG. 4) , and forms together with the first, second and third bufferingmembers 1, 2 and 3 a cushion body with the suspending layer. Theinterval between the suspending portion 42 and the first bufferingmember 1 further provides the external object 5 placed on the suspendingportion 42 with a buffering space. Thereby, the disclosed bufferingcushion 100 effectively provides buffering protection to the externalobject 5 with its inflatable parts, the suspending layer 4 and theintervals between the suspending layer 4 and the inflatable parts. Inaddition, the buffering cushion 100 has one end formed with an endopening 103 communicated with the accommodating space 10, for allowingthe external object 5 to be placed into the accommodating space 10through the end opening 103 or from above. Particularly, when carryingthe external object 5, the suspending layer 4 receives dual support fromthe vertical walls 24 and 34 and the supporting portions 21 and 31, andcan slightly sink due to the weight of the external object 5. Since thesuspending layer is a non-inflatable piece, it is unlikely to bepunctured by any sharp parts of the external object, thereby providingstable and safe support.

It is to be noted that the suspending layer 4 may be formed bylaminating the two outer films 101 and 102, or may be formed byextending either of the two outer films 101 and 102 from the connectingheat-seal border 22 or 32 of the second or third buffering member 2 or3.

The suspending portion 42 of the suspending layer 4 further has anextended heat-seal border 421 (as shown in FIG. 6) , which is extendedrearward from the end opening 103, so as to enlarge the suspendingportion 42 in terms of width, and in turn the overall width of thesuspending layer 4. The width of the extended heat-seal border 421 mayvary according to practical needs, so as to provide an adequate spacefor receiving the external object 5. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6,the second buffering member 2 and the third buffering member 3 havedifferent heights, so that external objects of different shapes can beeasily put sideways into the accommodating space 10 from the top of thethird buffering member 3.

Referring to FIG. 5 for another embodiment of the present invention, thesuspending portion 42 of the suspending layer 4 is heat sealed onto thefirst buffering member 1, so that the air columns 11 of the firstbuffering member 1 provide the external object 5 with butter bufferingprotection. Since the suspending layer 4 is above the first bufferingmember 1, the first buffering member is protected from being puncturedby any sharp parts of the external object 5.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the second buffering member 2 and the thirdbuffering member 3 have their sides opposite to the end opening 103extended with plural inflatable wall columns 20 and 30 that are heatsealed together to form a retaining wall 24. The retaining wall 24serves to position the external object 5 from its rear end (as shown inFIG. 4).

Please refer to FIG. 7 for another embodiment of the present invention.Therein, the buffering cushion 100 has unbent second and third bufferingmembers 2 and 3, meaning that there is no any vertical walls 24 and 34as described above. The suspending layer 4 is directly extended from theconnecting heat-seal borders 22 and 32 at the extremes of the second andthird buffering members 2 and 3 as an integral member. In this way, thebuffering cushion 100 can also use the suspending layer 4 to carry theexternal object 5 while providing buffering protection.

To sum up, the disclosed buffering cushion 100 can be inflated quicklyinto a buffering protecting structure. The bent second and thirdbuffering members 2 and 3 form the vertical walls 24 and 34, and thenon-inflatable suspending layer 4 is formed at ends of the verticalwalls 24 and 34 for carrying an external object 5. Thereby the secondand third buffering members 2 and 3 and the vertical walls 24 and 34provide lateral protection, while at the bottom of the external object 5the suspending layer 4 and the first buffering member 1 provide bearingand buffering, respectively. Thereby, the external object 5 is protectedby the disclosed buffering cushion 100 in all directions and this fullbuffering protection secures the external object from damage duringtransport. Furthermore, the suspending layer 4 is designed to preventthe first buffering member 1 and itself being punctured and losing theprotective function. The buffering cushion 100 is easy to manufactureand is cost-effective in use. Also, plural said buffering cushions 100can be used together to ensure better protection.

1. A buffering cushion with a suspending layer hung between inward-bentair columns, the buffering cushion being made of at least two outerfilms and comprising: a first buffering member, including a plurality ofsaid air columns arranged abreast, wherein each said air column has eachof two opposite sides thereof formed with a heat-seal line that bindsthe two outer films together, and has each of two opposite ends thereofformed with a joint through heat sealing; a second buffering member,extended from one side of the first buffering member and including aplurality of inflatable wall columns that are connected to the aircolumns of the first buffering member via the joints, so that the secondbuffering member is allowed to be bent inward against the joints, andthe second buffering member has one side opposite to the first bufferingmember formed with a connecting heat-seal border for connecting theinflatable wall columns through heat sealing; a third buffering member,extended from one side of the first buffering member opposite to thesecond buffering member and including a plurality of inflatable wallcolumns that are connected to the air columns of the first bufferingmember via the joints, so that the third buffering member is allowed tobe bent inward against the joints, and the third buffering member hasone side opposite to the first buffering member formed with a connectingheat-seal border, in which at least one air channel is arranged betweenthe first buffering member and each of the second and third bufferingmembers so that an inflating air flow is allowed to flow through thefirst, second and third buffering member; and the suspending layer,connecting the connecting heat-seal borders of the second bufferingmember and the third buffering member, and forming together with thesecond buffering member and the third buffering member an accommodatingspace opened outward, wherein the suspending layer has each of two sidesthereof provided with an extended portion, with one said extendedportion integratedly extended from the connecting heat-seal border ofthe second buffering member and the other said extended portionintegratedly extended from the connecting heat-seal border of the thirdbuffering member, and the two extended portions are heat sealed togetherto form a suspending portion substantially located at a center of theaccommodating space, whereby the suspending layer serves to carry anexternal object, and forms together with the first, second and thirdbuffering members a cushion body of the buffering cushion, for providingthe external object with buffering protection, in which one end of thecushion body is formed with an end opening communicated with theaccommodating space; wherein each of the second buffering member and thethird buffering member has a plurality of aligned bent sections formedthrough heat sealing, and a vertical wall is formed between theconnecting heat-seal border of each of the second buffering member andthe third buffering member and the corresponding bent sections, so thatthe vertical walls are allowed to be bent in toward the accommodatingspace against the bent sections, in which each said vertical wallcomprises plural said inflatable wall columns, and in which what isbetween the bent sections of each of the second and third bufferingmembers and the joints of the first buffering member is defined as asupporting portion, and each said vertical wall has a height smallerthan a height of the supporting portion.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The bufferingcushion of claim 1, wherein the suspending portion of the suspendinglayer further has at least one extended heat-seal border that isextended rearward from the end opening, for enlarging the suspendingportion in width and providing adequate space for receiving the externalobject.
 4. The buffering cushion of claim 1, wherein when theaccommodating space does not contain the external object, the suspendinglayer and the first buffering member are separated by an interval. 5.The buffering cushion of claim 1, wherein the suspending portion of thesuspending layer is heat sealed onto the first buffering member.
 6. Thebuffering cushion of claim 1, wherein the two outer films are made ofplastic, and the suspending layer is formed by laminating the two outerfilms together, or by extending either of the two outer films outwardfrom the connecting heat-seal border of the second buffering member orthe third buffering member.
 7. The buffering cushion of claim 1, whereinthe second buffering member and the third buffering member are differentin terms of height, so that the external object is to be put sidewaysinto the accommodating space from a top of the second buffering memberor the third buffering member.
 8. The buffering cushion of claim 1,wherein each of the second buffering member and the third bufferingmember has one side opposite to the end opening extended with moreinflatable wall columns, and the inflatable wall columns of thebuffering members are heat sealed to form an integrated retaining wall.9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. The buffering cushion of claim 1,wherein the bent sections and heat-seal lines of the inflatable wallcolumns of the second and third buffering members are alternativelyarranged, so as to form air channels not sealed for allowing an air flowto flow from the first buffering member to the second and thirdbuffering members.